GB987795A - A laundering process and detergent composition therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

Fabrics are laundered by washing in water at 40-100 DEG F. which contains a composition comprising (a) a zwitterionic compound of formula <FORM:0987795/C4-C5/1> where R1 is C12- 18-alkyl, R2 and R3 are methyl, ethyl or hydroxyethyl, R4 is C1- 3-alkylene, X is H or OH and R1, R2 and R3 contain a total of 14-20 C atoms; and (b) as a detergency builder salt, an alkaline inorganic salt or an organic alkaline sequestrant salt; the weight ratio (a):(b) being 5:1 to 1:25. In general, (a) comprises 4-35%, preferably 4-15%, of the composition and may consist of a 3 - (N,N - dimethyl - N - alkyl - ammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulphonate in which the alkyl group contains 12-16 C atoms, or a 3 - (N,N - dimethyl - N - alkylammonio) - propane-1-sulphonate in which the alkyl group contains 14-16 C. atoms. (b) normally comprises 8-90%, more usually 8-30%, of the composition, and is suitably sodium or potassium pyro- or tripoly-phosphate, sodium phylate, or sodium or potassium ethylene-diamine tetraacetate or nitrilotriacetate; sodium and potassium orthophosphates, silicates, carbonate or borate may also be employed. Generally, 3-12% of an anionic sulphate or sulphonate detergent is also present; suitable detergents are alkylglyceryl ether sulphonates, fatty acid monoglyceride sulphates or sulphonates, but are preferably sodium, potassium, ammonium or substituted ammonium alkyl sulphates, alkylpolyglycol ether sulphates or alkylbenzene sulphonates wherein the alkyl group contains 9-16 carbon atoms. In addition, 5-15% sodium or potassium benzene, toluene or xylene sulphonate, and 3.5-6% of sodium or potassium silicate wherein SiO2:M2O is 1-2.6 are generally also present. Tarnish inhibitor, e.g. ethylene thiourea or benzotriazole, ethanol, sodium carboxymethyl-cellulose, sodium sulphate, perfume, colour, opacifier and thickeners may also be incorporated, and the composition may be produced either in liquid or in granular solid form.